NewsRoom Digest: Top NZ News Items for September 17, 2015

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 12 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 17th September.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Top stories in the current news cycle include the Government rejecting an application by a subsidiary of China-based Shanghai Pengxin for purchase of the 13,800 ha Lochinver Station because the benefits to New Zealand were not considered sufficiently substantial and identifiable, creditors of Solid Energy approving a progressive sell-down of the company’s assets over the next two-and-a-half years and a tsunami warning being issued for New Zealand’s eastern areas after a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile.

Note: As well as providing a precis of leading broadcast bulletins each day, our NewsRoom_Monitor service does a daily paper round with succinct ‘news picks’ from the main metropolitan papers emailed by 9am each morning. If you’re interested in a free trial please email monitor@newsroom.co.nz

POLITICS PULSE

Media releases issued from Parliament by political parties today included:

Government: NZ welcomes reconciliation moves in Sri Lanka, Suffrage Day raises profile of inspiring leaders; Online tool helps food businesses understand new regulations; $5.5m projects see new classrooms open at two Auckland schools; Bill passed to resolve land issues; New A+ sustainability standard for aquaculture; New school for Western East Cape; McClay welcomes sensible outcome for Solid; James Cook Research Fellowships awarded; Speech- Bill English – Social Investment; Tsunami warning marine and beach threat; Dunedin Hospital redevelopment next steps; Minister congratulates Pacific music legend; Major benefits expected from new forest harvesting technology

ACT Party: Come on Labour, step up to the plate

Greens: Economic slowdown an opportunity to invest; Better rules needed to keep NZ land in Kiwi hands; Divestment Bill part of climate solution; Govt must ensure Solid Energy buyers live up to standards

Labour: Desperate Government threatens financial veto – again; Lochinver is right decision for first time since 2012; Worst Six Months for Economy since 2011; TICS Amendment Bill a check on Minister’s powers; Joyce unaware of National MP on Taratahi board; Parliament should back pathway to work; Government sends major Canterbury contract to Australia; Target fail- Exports to GDP lowest since 1997; Bulging mailbag sign of growing health crisis; Target fail- Exports to GDP lowest since 1997

New Zealand First: So Where Was The Benefit In All The Other Farm Sales To Foreigners?; Speech- Protecting the integrity of sport and preventing corruption

United Future Party: Dunne Speaks- Are the Politics of Moderation Dead?

BIRTHDAYS GALORE: Statistics NZ is reminding New Zealanders that their wallets may be in for a hammering, with ‘peak birthday’ due to hit the country this week. The peak birthday period will start on 19 September and stay with the country until 1 October. As a fun feature Stats NZ has released Rank Your Birthday, a tool to show birthdate rank, how common it is, and how many people potentially share the big day. The calculator is based on births from 1980 to 2014 and can be accessed here: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/pop-birthdays-table#tool.aspx

COUNTING KERERU: The Great Kererū Count is about to take flight, with New Zealanders across the country being asked to keep their eyes on the skies to help scientists build up a comprehensive picture of where our native pigeon is – and isn’t – found. The annual count runs from Saturday 19 Sept until Sunday 27 Sept. Public observations can be recorded on the website http://www.greatkererucount.nz

GST: An issues paper was released today that provides options to improve the way certain GST-related rules operate in practice. The officials’ issues paper, GST – Current issues, can be found at www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz

FOOD BUSINESSES: An online tool was launched today that will help food businesses discover how they will be affected by the new Food Act 2014, which comes into force in March next year. People can find out which rules will apply to their business, and when they will need to transition to the new rules, on the MPI website:http://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-safety/food-act-2014/where-do-i-fit/

FRUIT FLY PROGRAMME: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is asking Auckland residents to hang in there for just a few more months while it completes its programme to eradicate a small population of the horticultural pest, the Queensland fruit fly. Full details about movement restrictions is available at:http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/queensland-fruit-fly

INSPIRING LEADERS: A toolkit of resources for women looking to achieve their leadership goals has today been launched by Minister for Women Louise Upston. View the Inspiring Women case studies athttp://women.govt.nz/inspiring-women

OPPOSING EUTHANASIA: A website dedicated to helping families oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, and to help them make a submission to the inquiry being carried out by Parliament’s Health Committee. Go here for the website: http://www.protect.org.nz/

TSUNAMI ALERT: Christchurch Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) is monitoring the tsunami alert issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management at 12pm today for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula. Read more information from the Ministry at: www.civildefence.govt.nz

WATER QUALITY ISSUES: “When it comes to water quality – are we playing a long game or a short game?” asked lawyer Helen Atkins, partner at specialist environmental law firm Atkins Holm Majurey, at Water New Zealand’s annual conference today. See more here: http://www.waternzconference.org.nz/

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Thursday 17th September.

Selwyn Manning, BCS (Hons.) MCS (Hons.) is an investigative political journalist with 23 years media experience. He specializes in reportage and analysis of socioeconomics, politics, foreign affairs, and security/intelligence issues.
Selwyn has extensive experience as a commentator and has provided live political analysis to a wide range of television and radio organizations broadcasting in New Zealand, Australia and globally including the BBC (Five Live, London) and BBC (World Service). He is currently a correspondent to Australia's FiveAA radio, and is a regular live-on-air panelist on Radio New Zealand's The Panel with broadcaster Jim Mora.